At least once every day I see myself in a mirror. On the surface, that is a good thing. There I can see if my hair has that combed-by-a-pillow look, or my beard is taking over my face, or if I need to increase the sunblock coverage on my ever-growing forehead. I find in my reflection what I was looking for.

Then there are the mirrors that hide nothing and in which I can see the whole me. What I see there causes pain and hurt. This reminds me of what happened when Peter denied Jesus for the third time, the rooster crowed and then Luke records in chapter 22 verse 61, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter”. What shame and guilt Peter felt as he saw the reflection of his own denial in the face of the Savior he so loved!

My wife is such a mirror for me. Every time I sin against her, my sin appears in the hurt and suffering on her face. Her tears reflect with terrible accuracy my selfishness. And even though I hate the sight, that same selfishness makes me want to deny my sin. But when I want to cowardly turn away from Diane, who I have hurt, I also turn away from her forgiveness. It’s only through my confession of the wrong and her forgiveness, that healing can begin in our relationship.

Today I head into Holy Week–a week begun by crowds of people, including me, boisterously shouting Hosanna to the Son of David! Wonderful joy was reflected in their faces. But before the week was over, the reflection was drastically changed on some of these faces to an almost hate that replaced “Hosanna” to “Crucify him!”

My reflection shows I am little if any different. I know the whole story of why Jesus had to suffer and die. And yet time after time, through my sin, I choose to raise myself above God and choose to do my own bidding. I try to rationalize that I am a sinner and can never be perfect. Or, I look at others and tell myself that they are worse. Or the cruelest of all my excuses, that this is the reason why Jesus came and died so I know I am forgiven.

I’ve heard many times that Jesus’ love held him on the cross. But my sin put him there in the first place. Until I continually put aside my selfishness and be willing to see the real reflection of who I am, there is no hope.

Hope–in myself? No. Rather there is assurance in Jesus’ reflection. Yes, my sinful self is seen through his suffering. But his reflection is one of his divine nature and love. and as a result of who Jesus really was and is I can cling on to the assurance in Galatians “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

My reflection is much more than what I see first thing in the morning. I don’t always like what I find when I take the time to see the whole reflection of me, but without that full picture I can never grow. Good Friday is still coming and it won’t be easy this year as my written words here will be on my mind. But then again Sunday is coming . . . but that’s a whole other story for different time.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again. I will wait you.

One of the thoughts of this song has always made my heart almost weep when I hear that God gave up his only Son and made a (this) wretch his treasure.